November 2006
Building Bridges for Information Literacy
Collaboration Between WCSU Librarians and Regional High School Librarians to Promote Information Literacy from High School through University
WCSU Library Faculty Participants: Jenny Innes, Public Services/Education Librarian Russ Gladstone, Access Services Librarian Xiaomei Gong, Business Librarian Veronica Kenausis, Systems Librarian
November 29, 2006 Meeting Notes on workshop content:
Brainstorming: how can students be better prepared for college level library research? How can they be better prepared for college (in general)?
Bridges program: WCSU English and math professors (Abbey Zink and Paula Maida, others) worked with Danbury and Bethel high school teachers. (grant funded in 2003, 3 year run, ended, trying to restart now). Meet with Paula Maida and Abbey Zink—JI will schedule this. Learn more about this program. Program was started in response to stiffer requirements at CSU for student math and English proficiency, but also achieved other goals. Was truly a collaborative effort based on mutual respect. (JI has Communique articles about program in her office; they are also on WCSU website)
Provost Rinker is most interested in collaboration with Bethel and Danbury school librarians for this reason.
How does school library/media center fit into curriculum through the grades? What we know so far:
• Grades K-3 library/media center is a weekly “special,” students are brought in for an hour (?)
• VK: Grades 4-8 this stops, no inclusion of library/media center into curricula after early grades.
• From grade 4 on, students are taken to library for special research-based projects
• After this point, not built into curriculum explicitly; students may not be in habit of using library at school
• Not encouraged to use libraries without teacher present; need pass etc.
Group agreed: We should survey them, what is situation there in terms of library use? We need more background information on their environment. During December 12 meeting, we will explore this.
RG: In high school setting, like at WCSU, some teachers/faculty are enthusiastic users of library, some not. Worthwhile to explore new ways of doing things: teleconferencing technology, librarian – teacher communicating from respected spaces.
XG: Given No Child Left Behind, not enough time for library. Should librarians come into classroom to make presentations?
VK: We need to know more about their environment before we can offer “advice.”
All: Have to balance library as place, distributed virtual, access to print Obtain profile of working relationship school librarians have with classroom teachers
RG: At WCSU, teaching faculty have little time to spare for bring library/librarians in.
All: Future: integration of services. Distributed. Info appliances. Classroom/library
JI: Danbury School Asst. Superintendent Bill Glass discussed distributed model/library in every classroom, computing in every classroom. They do promote “21st century literacy skills” but not wedded to one particular model.
JI: How does NCLB affect work of school librarians?
When students come to WCSU, what are they lacking:
• They cannot discriminate between Internet/databases.
• Don’t know what information needs are.
• Don’t know where to start, where to go. JLA (Justice & Law Administration) assignment: “find one criminology scholarly journal article”—student: “where do I go to find journal article?”
• Don’t know where to begin to develop search query, a thesis statement. How to ask a question.
• VK: ICT—pilot, test at high school, when they know where they’ll go to college. Toward the end of high school. Will inform WCSU. RG: test when juniors, then again as seniors, see where gaps are.
• Disconnect between what taught in h.s. and what expected of them at WCSU. Tested on math/English but not info lit. Work on writing, work on Algebra.
• SAT’s, CAPT test,
• Are students introduced to inquiry based learning in regional high schools?
• JI/group: Idea for high school instruction/civics class: Information life cycle: http://library.wcsu.edu/web/services/researchers/related/prodcution/
• Information production, source of info, final form of info, where does it go? How does it change through the process? How to interpret different forms/formats/sources of info?
• How to evaluate information from different sources, media outlets. Do students have to read newspapers for any classes? Ensure that students are savvy consumers of information.
• Need to work on/teach time management, self-discipline, planning ahead, prioritizing. Many students procrastinate, do assignments at 11th hour, don’t leave themselves enough time. No time for reflection. Lost opportunities for learning. [BASIC TIME MANAGEMENT & WORK HABITS]?. I asked Natalie and Sally if at high schools these types of classes are offered.
• I’ve already written paper, I just need a few sources.